Earth augers of the trip type



April 1958 R. d.'SULLlVAN ET AL 2,331,558

EARTH AUGERS OF THE TRIP TYPE Filed June 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22, 1958 R. J. SULLIVAN ET AL 2,831,658

EARTH AUGERS OF THE TRIP TYPE Filed June 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiiiiih I unml "ll imam" INVENTOR.

April 22, 1953 R. J. SULLIVAN ET AL 2,831,658

' EARTH AUGERS OF THE TRIP TYPE Filed June 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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April 22, 1958 Filed June 17, 1955 R. J. SULLIVAN ET AL EARTH AUGERS OF THE TRIP TYPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EARTH nuonns or ran ran TYPE Ross Joseph Sullivan and Ralph Summerfieid, Centralia,

Mo., assignors to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri The present invention relates to earth angers of the trip type, and is particularly concerned with an improved auger construction for attaining the following objectives and fulfilling the following objects:

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved manually operated earth auger of the trip type which facilitates unloading the earth from the bucket type blades, having in addition a simplified, highly durable construction, also a simple sliding cam type blade locking device and relatively low manufacturing cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved auger head assembly including a gravity actu ated cam lock for the trip type blade, in which the locking members may be manually disengaged but are self-lockigu by gravitative action, and in which the engaging surfaces of the lock are so positioned that they compensate for wear and the parts are self-adjusting to provide the best operating contact.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved auger head unit having a minimum number of parts so constructed that the assembly work is reduced, and provision is made for the easy attachment and adjustment of the reamer blade by means of standard threaded members; and the unit is adapted to be manufactured economically, easily assembled, and adapted to maintain the proper relationship of the blades in a rigid unit under the most rigorous conditions ofservice.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved handle construction adapted to be rigidly secured to a telescoping handle shaft in spite of variations in wood handle diameter and maintained in a tight condition, free from looseness throughout the life of the auger.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved simplified frame construction which reduces the number of parts to a minimum, provides for the rigid attachment of the handle shaft, although it is also readily replaceable, and also provides for the rigid mounting of the fixed blade, the adjustable mounting of the reamer blade, and the pivotal mounting of the trip blade.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved blade supporting arm for the trip blade, which is provided with a positive stop locating surface forcon tacting a portion of the frame casting, to maintain alignment of the trip blade with the companion fixed blade, in which the arm has a range of pivotal movement which provides for minimum interference with the earth during the unloading operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved auger blade formation having a long cutting edge, so positioned on the frame that it will generate a circle at its point of maximum diametenof sufficient size to provide clearance for the balance of the head assembly, thus providing for freedom of operation, and in which the blade has a scooping action, tending to .draw the blade downward, so that the auger is self-feeding in a downward direction and the mounting holes are at such 2 i an angle to the cutting edges that cutting edge wear and blade resharpening do not diminish the downward feeding action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved frame and reamer blade construction, by means of which the reamer blade may be firmly mounted at any of a plurality of positions to bore holes of various diameters, and the height and shape of the reamer blade is such that it creates a smoothly finished cylindrical surface along the full length of the hole bored by the auger, eliminating any possibility of forming a thread type surface, which makes it difficult to retract the assembly from the hole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following disclosure and description, in which similar characters of reference indicate simila parts throughout the several views.

I Referring to the drawings accompanying the specification, of which there are four sheets,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an improved earth auger embodying the invention, with the movable blade in the locked position;

' Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the right side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane ofthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of: the line 5-5 of Fig- 4,looking in the direction ofthearrows;l-

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of an adjustable reamer blade employed. in the device;

a Fig; 7 is. a fragmentary side elevational view of the joint betweenthe'adjustable shaft 21 and the main shaft Fig. 8 -is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.9 is aside elevational view taken from the opposite side of the blade 122 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the blade 122 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the blade 122;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1Z-l2 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows; g 1 H 1 Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1'313 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figs. '1 and 2', 10 indicates in its entirety the present earth auger assembly, which preferably includes an anger handle 11, mounted on a telescoping auger shaft assembly 12, which is fixedly secured to the auger head assembly 13. 1. 3

The augerhandle 11 is preferably of the wooden type, having a cylindrical body 14, which has its end portions tapered down at 15and rounded into cylindrical shape at 16, and provided with rounded end portions 17 for engagement with the hands.

The-body portion 14 is clamped by means of a split clevis, having its yoke 19 welded at 20 to the shaft 21, which forms the upper part of the handle.

Yoke 19 carries a pair of partially cylindrical clamping portions 22, which terminate in a pair of spaced radially extending flanges 23, having aligned apertures 24 for a standard bolt, such as a carriage bolt 25, provided with a standard nut.

- One of the apertures 24 may be squared to receive the the nut 26 draws the flanges 23 together and clamps the 3, clevis tightly on the handle 11 in such manner that any looseness may always be'taken up.

The handle shaft 21 may be of any desired length, and shafts of different length are employed for digging holes of different depth, the shaft being removably mounted in the pipecasting 27, which joins the shaft 21 to a second shaft 28.

Shaft 21 is preferably square and solid, and small enough to slide into pipe 28. Shaft 21- has conical sockets 33' to receive conical end of hand screw 38;

The pipe casting 27 comprises a substantially cylindrical cast metal member, preferably made of steel, and having a cylindrical bore 29 for slidably receiving the pipe 21, forming the handle shaft.

The cylindrical body 30 of the pipe casting may have a tapered enlargement 31 at its lower end, this enlargement being provided with a pipe threaded bore 32, leadingto an enlarged counterbore 33, which provides a clearance for the ends of the pipes in the pipe casting.

Bore 32 has pipe threads which are complementary to the pipe threads 34 onthe end of the pipe 28, the threads running in the right-hand direction, so that they will be tightened by rotation of the handle in the digging operation.

The body 30 of the pipe casting 27 has a cylindrical laterally extending protuberance 35, which is provided with a non-circular inner socket 36, communicating with the bore 29, and adapted to receive a standard nut 37, of complementary shape, the nut being prevented from rotation.

A hand screw member 38 has its threaded end 39 extending through an aperture 40 in the end of the protuberance 35, and the hand screw 38 extends through a counterbore 41, which contains a compression coil spring 42, surrounding the hand screw.

Coil spring 42 engages the nut 37 at one of its ends, and:

its other end engages the annular shoulder 43in the bore The hand screw extends through the nut 37 and has its end 44 located to engage the side of the pipe 21 in the bore 29, and the pipe may have a suitable socket for the end of the hand screw.

Hand screw 38 has its outer end portion laterally bent to form the handle 45, by means of which it is'turned-into clamping position.

T he nut 37 may react against ashoulder46-in th socket 36 to force the hand screw against the shaft 21, or it may react against the spring .42, which may be compressed to a rigid condition. a

The shaft 28 is provided with a lower threaded end portion 4-7, having threads complementary to the threads 48 in a bore in the auger frame 49, which carries the auger blades 50 and 51.

Frame 49 comprises a cast metal member having a counterbore 52, communicating with the threaded bore 48, and having an inwardly projecting rim 53 surrounding a through bore 54, the rim being adapted to engage the end of the pipe shaft 28 for effecting more firm securement.

Frame 49 has the central tubular portion 55, surrounding pipe 28, and this is integrally joined to the tangentially extending arm 56, which is also integrally secured to a horizontal web or flange 57 for strengthening the arm 56. The frame 49 carries the'upwardly and downwardly extending blade supportnig flange 58, which is parallel to the axis of shaft 23, and has an outer plane surface 59. Blade supporting flange 58 is integrally joined to frame 49 by a reinforcing web 60'.

The blade supporting flange 58 is provided with-two laterally projecting, partially circular lobes 61, 62, and

with :1 depending partially cylindrical. lobe 63, each. of these having an aperture 64 for receiving the rivets 65 which secure the blade 51 to the frame.

The apertures 64 are countersunk and the blades; are provided with complementary frusto-conical' formations 4 fitting in the, countersunk apertures and surrounding the shanks of the rivets 65.

The arm 56 of frame 49 is provided along its upper edge with a projecting rim 66, above a plane surface 67 for mounting the reamer blade 68. Arm 5'6 has a through bore 69 for receiving the screw bolt 70, which passes through this bore and through any of the apertures 71 in the reamer blade.

A wing nut 72 is employed on the bolt '76 for clamping the reamer blade 68 against the fiat surface 67. Reamer blade 53 comprises a hardened steel sheet metal member having a straight upper edge 73, which engages below the rim 66' when any of its apertures 71 are in registry with aperture 69. Thus the reamer blade 68 is firmly secured in position by one bolt and by engagement of its edge 73 with the rim 66'.

Reamer blade 68 has an elongated body 74 with parallel sides and with the partially circular rounded ends 75, 76. At its lower edge 77, reamer blade 68 carries the angle blade 78 integrally secured to it and extending at right angles to the body 74.

Blade 78 is beveled at 79, along its upper side, at the sharpened edge 80. The circular end '76 is only circular at its upper corner, Fig. 1, being finished at the blade end by an outwardly sloping straight edge portion 81, extending to the blade 78. Thus the reamer blade provides a finished hole with the end portion 81 being backwardly sloped from the blade to have a clearance.

The reamer blade may be projected to any desired position to make a larger hole or provide a finished wall for a hole of minimum size, but it does not interfere with the retraction of the auger assembly because the reamer blade projects from only one side and the handle may be tilted so that the blade is retracted from the wall of the hole dug, while the auger is being removed.

The frame 49 also extends toward the right in Fig.4, from the tubular formation 55, being provided with an integral radial web 82, which is integrally joined at the bottom by a horizontal flange 83, reinforced with angular gussets 92 on each side and supporting a radially extending pivot flange 85.

The pivot flange 85 has a rounded end 86, andis provided with a through bore-87 for receiving rivet 88, upon which the trip blade 50 is pivoted.

The trip blade arm 89 may comprise a cast metal member having a partially circular body 90, provided with the aperture 87, and having the depending attaching plate 91, integrally secured to body 90 and reinforced by gusset flange 92.

Attaching plate 91 has a plane attaching surface 93 for engaging the trip blade 50, which has a complementary flat surface 94 at this point. Like the fixed blade supporting flange 58, the blade supporting plate 91 is formed with a pair of laterally projecting circular lobes 61a and a depending circular lobe 63a, having the apertures 95 for receiving the rivets 96 which secure the trip blade 50 to the arm 89.

Here again the apertures are countersunk at 97, about the rivet shank to receive a complementary formation on the trip blade. Body. 90 of the arm 89 includes a pair of spaced flanges 98 and 99, separated by slot 100, to be located on the opposite sides of the pivot flange 85 of frame 49, the sides of which are outwardly tapered at 101, complementary to the shape of the slot 100.

The frame 49 also has a pair of integral outwardly projecting lugs 102, 103, spaced from each other to provide a slot 104 for passing a stop member 165, Fig. 2, which is carried by the sliding lock sleeve 106. Stop member 105 is an integral part of the lock sleeve 106, Fig. 2, and comprises an offset portion 107, a longitudinally extending portion 108, and a T-shaped head 109.

The longitudinally extending portion 108 is located in the slot 104, between the lugs 102, 103, and prevents rotation of the lock sleeve 106. The T-shaped end portion 109 limits the upward movement of the lock sleeve 106, preventing the sleeve from fully withdrawing the member 105 out of the slot 104, and limiting movement of the sleeve to that required for unlocking of the trip blade.

Lock sleeve 106 may comprise a cast metal member formed with a through cylindrical bore 110 for slidably receiving the lower shaft 28, on which it is mounted, before the shaft is screwed into the bore 48.

Lock sleeve 106 serves as a handle for manually actuating the lock; and the sleeve is provided with a radially extending lug 111, which has an outwardly and upwardly sloping lock face 112, on an end flange 113, integrally joined to a web 114 and a lower reinforcing flange 115.

Trip blade arm 89 has its body 90-provided with an upwardly extending portion 116, which is turned inward at 117, and provided with a diagonal end portion 118. This diagonal end portion is T-shaped, as shown in plan in Fig. 3, and has its extreme end 119 beveled, as shown in Fig. 4, so that it is complementary to and parallel to the sloping end 112 of the locking lug 111.

Blade 50, fixedly secured to arm 89, is limited in its inward pivotal movement, Fig. 4, by engagement of the stop surfaces 120, with the adjacent stop surfaces 121 on flange 83.

The blade may be held in the digging position, as shown in Fig. 1, by the stop surfaces 119 and 112, but may be released by retracting the sleeve 106 manually, which permits the blade 50 to pivot outward in Fig. 1 under the weight of the earth carried thereby, which tends to slide downward off the blade and tends to pivot the blade to a more open position when the fill is loose.

Gravity tends to move the blade back to the digging position of Fig. 1, where it is locked by the locking lug 111, moving down by gravity into the position of Fig. 1.

The two blades 50 and 51 may be identical in shape and construction; and each of the blades includes a flat or plane portion 122 of sufi'icient area to be engaged by the surfaces 59 and 93, where they are attached to theauger head, these plane portions and apertures registering with the apertures 64, for the securing rivets 65, and these plane portions being located at the upper end of each blade.

The upper end of each blade may have an end edge 123 which slopes upwardly toward the rear, having reference to the direction of rotation, being higher at the rounded corner 124, which is trailing with respect to the rounded corner 125.

Each blade has its main body portion partially cylindrical at 126 and 127, and formed on the same radius. Each blade is provided with a partially spherical lower formation 128, 129, these formations curving inwardly toward each other and terminating at their edges in the sharp points 130, 131.

The partially spherical lower portions 128 and 129 are formed with lower curved edges 132, 133, converging at the points 130 and 131 in each case, and forming a cutting edge 132, and a trailing edge 133.

The trailing edge 133 is formed with a long curve of larger radius, and the point 130 or 131 is located in advance or to the left of the plane intersecting the axis of the anger in Fig. 2 in blade 51 and to the right in blade 50.

The cutting edge 132 in each case is formed on a larger radius at its lower portion 134, converging into a smaller radius at 135 at its outer and upper portion, where the cutting blade projects at136, beyond the lateral edges 137 of each blade.

The cutting edges 132 are beveled and sharpened at 138 on the inside of each blade from the point 139 to the lower point 130 or 131 of each blade.

The trailing lateral edge 140, 140, of each blade may slope upwardly toward the upper corner 124, and may be concavely formed at 141 toward the bottom of the blade leading to the point 130.

The leading or sharpened edge may be concavely formed at 142, backwardly from the point 130, .and may be convexly formed at 143, farther up, as shown in Fig. 1.

The partially spherical lower end portions 128 and 129 of the lower part of the blades, terminating at the points and 131, occupy less than one quarter of the corresponding sphere so that the point portions 130 and 131 still extend downwardly and tend to dig into or scoop up the earth between them, making the blades self-feedmg.

The blades 50 and 51 are spaced from each other sufficiently to locate cylindrical portions 126, 127 in a cylinder generated by these portions of the blades.

The operation of the auger will be apparent from the foregoing description of its parts and their functions.

Upon turning the handle the points of the blades tend to dig into the ground and to scoop the ground into the space between the blades, the auger being self-feeding. The ground which is dug up is loosened and occupies a larger space in the loose condition between the blades.

The digging is continued-until the space between the blades is full, when the auger head is withdrawn and the sleeve 106 is pulled manually, tripping the auger.

With the assembly held at some angle to the ground line and the pivot blade in a position underneath the axis of the handle shaft, the Weight of the loose earth between the blades pivots the trip blade 50 outward and downward, thus permitting the earth to slide from the space between the blades. Upon rotating the complete auger assembly about the handle shaft axis, the pivot blade is returned to digging position by gravity, and the lug 112 which has been resting temporarily on the extension 118 then slides into locking position by gravity as shown in Fig. 1.

As the digging continues the reamer blade, which may be extended as desired, comes into action, cutting the hole bigger and finishing the hole to a smooth cylindrical condition.

The earth dug between the reamer blade tends to fall between the blades because there is no space outside the blades below the reamer blade.

The present earth anger is thus adapted to bore holes with less labor and to provide the holes with a smoother finish, resulting in a lesser tendency for cave-ins. The auger may be manufactured very economically, having a minimum number of parts. It may be assembled with a minimum mount of labor and utilizes standard elements wherever possible.

While we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of all changes within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

In an earth auger of the trip type, the combination of a supporting frame provided with a central tubular body, having a first tangentially extending arm at one side, integrally joined to a web, carried by said body and arm and extending transversely to the axis of the body, said arm and web supporting a depending fixed attaching bracket, having a plane outer face with a plurality of apertures, a tubular handle secured in said tubular body, a second arm carried by said body and extending oppositely to said first arm, and comprising a horizontal and a vertical web integral with said body, said second arm having a horizontal bearing bore, a pivot rivet in said latter bore, and a pivot blade bracket, pivoted on both ends of said rivet and having a depending attaching portion, with a plane face, having a plurality of apertures, said pivoted blade bracket having an integral upwardly and inwardly extending locking arm having its end upwardly and outwardly bevelled, stop means on said second arm and said pivot bracket, limit- U ing movement of the pivoted blade bracket toward said fixed blade bracket, a sliding sleeve mounted on said tubular handle, and having an axially extending lug with a T-shaped end spaced outwardly from said body, said body having a pair of outwardly extending lugs, one on each side of the stem of said axially extending lug, and both said outwardly extending lugs being located to engage above the T-shaped end, preventing rotation and limiting upward movement of said sleeve, said sleeve having a rigid radially extending locking lug, at its lower end, provided with an upwardly and outwardly sloping locking surface, engaging the upwardly and outwardly bevelled end of the locking arm on the pivot blade bracket to lock the pivoted blade in closed position, there being a pivoted blade on said pivot blade bracket, and a fixed blade on said fixed blade bracket, said blades comprising sheet metal members formed with a plane portion at their upper ends, for attachment to the plane faces of the blade brackets, said blades each having a cylindrical body, with a spherical lower end portion, the lateral edges of each blade extending to an obtuse lower inwardly directed point on each blade, and the points being located outwardly of the axis of beyond the cylindrical body of each blade, said scoop formation having an upper concave and a lower convex leading and cutting edge, joined continuously and extending radially beyond the upper cylindrical portion of the blade, cutting a larger hole with a clearance with respect to said cylindrical portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzer Mar. 27, 1883 793,185 Gampher June 27, 1905 978,559 Chase Dec. 13, 1910 1,076,817 Chase Oct. 28, ,1913 1,466,897 Gampher Sept. 4, 1923 2,571,244 Hollander Oct. 16, 1951 

